Yogi Ferrell: I feel like I couldn't be in a better situation right now than the Dallas Mavericks

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball against Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics and James Young #13 of the Boston Celtics in the second half at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

These last few months have been a whirlwind man, I'll tell you that. From being undrafted to going to Brooklyn; them signing me to getting waived back to the D-League; get a 10-day with the Mavericks and they end up signing me. It's been fun. There have obviously been a lot of ups and downs for me in my career but I've stayed with it. I feel like I couldn't be in a better situation right now than the Dallas Mavericks. The organization is great, the people are great, my teammates are great and I love the city.

Getting the opportunity with the Mavericks:

Mavs display their belief in Yogi Ferrell, who will have the opportunity to improve while embracing a larger role

After I had gotten waived, I knew there was going to be another opportunity for me. I didn't know when it was going to be but for me personally, I wanted to make sure that whatever opportunity it was, I wanted to be ready for it. I feel like I couldn't be in a better situation than the Mavericks coming in. Especially a guy off a 10-day [contract] starting against the Spurs. I mean, once Coach told me that before my eyes kind of lit up like man, I'm going against Hall of Fame guys, all-star guys so it was a little shocking for me. I feel like everybody gets an opportunity, it's just what you make from that opportunity.

Playing point guard for Rick Carlisle:

Oh his expectations for point guards are really high--the highest on the team at all times. He basically knows that the team goes as the point guard goes so he's definitely the hardest on us and we especially need that because that's kind of how the game goes, especially now. Point guards are the heart of the team so he's got a lot of expectations and I feel like even the older guys that are trying to talk to me and telling me what Coach Rick wants, because he knows what success looks like. So I feel like if we just do that and do what Coach says, we'll have a better chance of winning.

Urgency in winning and making the playoffs for Dirk Nowitzki:

Yeah I think so. We're trying to make history right now. Trying to be one of the teams to have the start that they had before I got here--really bad start--to now being able to get into the playoffs. I think that'll be something special for us, just to even get there and it would just show that we can stay with it and still fight at the end. I know Dirk wants to get there, all the time no matter what because he's a competitor himself. I feel like if we can go in there and get that, do it for him, do it for the city, that'd be something great.

Me personally, I was a little shocked by it. I've had a great relationship with Coach Crean and I really feel like he developed me as a player, developed so many other guys as players, as human beings so when I learned of the unfortunate news, I was a little bit shocked by it.

The impact Crean had on him as a player:

He had a great impact. He knew the game in and out, he knew the league really well and he knew a lot of successful people. One thing I liked from him is he'd always bring in successful people to come in and talk to the team, and it didn't even have to be through basketball. It could be through anything else. He just instilled a work ethic in me and just how to go about your daily business as a pro, just to be an upstanding, genuine person every single day, to give back to the community. So he had a big influence and impact on my life.